Negotiating on a Barratts New Build

Kildare

Only thing I would add is watch out for Barratt's bullying tactics. We popped in to see a Barratt's new build development (we've decided it's not for us), but just in the initial conversation so we could see the show home and find out details the Barratt's representative told us they wouldn't be able to do us any deals on flooring etc. unless we used their recommended solicitors. And that we should use their solicitors as we had to complete in 21 days or we'd lose the property!

It may just have been this particular sales person but watch out for that one while negotiating

Rach_b_123

Kildare wrote: »

Only thing I would add is watch out for Barratt's bullying tactics. We popped in to see a Barratt's new build development (we've decided it's not for us), but just in the initial conversation so we could see the show home and find out details the Barratt's representative told us they wouldn't be able to do us any deals on flooring etc. unless we used their recommended solicitors. And that we should use their solicitors as we had to complete in 21 days or we'd lose the property!

It may just have been this particular sales person but watch out for that one while negotiating

Thank you for the warning - much appreciated. I think we certainly have to be hard-faced about it and not get taken in by any bullying/sales tactics and not give anything away.

We recently had an instance where we were told to hurry up with our offer (it was an older house), use the EA mortgage broker and sign this form today to allow her to credit check you as there is another person interested in this property and we dont want you to lose out. Funny that, as the property is still on the market and not under offer at all!! My husband said at the time that it could just be hurrying tactics and (although i hate to say it) he was right!

dgtazzman

Didn't bully us one bit when we were there to purchase a house, was actually quite surprised. We ended up using their mortgage people though, as they seemed quite professional during initial contact and they have been quite acceptable throughout, not flawless, but efficient enough nonetheless. We didn't use a tied in solicitor though, but the one we are using was known to them anyway as they were dealing with them on another purchase, so they knew how they were to work with.

Just heard today that the valuation of the property has come up at 195k on a property with a purchase price of 210k. Was expecting a storm to brew over this, but even with this both their mortgage people and themselves are being quite calm and helpful, just waiting to hear from the big boss if they are happy to just take the 195k and be done with it or challenge the valuation. The sales guy, however, was quite upfront and admitted they'd have a hard time challenging the valuation as they don't have any usable comparables, so he seems to expect they will just take the hit and sell it to us at valuation value, fingers crossed.

This is one of the last houses on the development (only 2 more, much smaller ones, for sale), so hoping they'll just want to be done with it. Worst case, they'll want us to apply for a new mortgage elsewhere, but I told them that still wouldn't guarantee that the valuation for the new mortgage wouldn't come up low, they seemed to agree to that point. Don't want to have to fork out another 500 pounds for fees on a new mortgage, only to end up in exactly the same situation. Just want to wrap things up and exchange.